Chalice

Country: Jamaica

Chalice is a Jamaican reggae band formed in 1980 in Gibraltar Hill, St. Mary, taking its name from a smoking pipe. The band quickly gained local success, and their 1982 debut album, Blasted, produced hit singles such as “I Still Love You”, which stayed at number one for seven weeks, and “Good To Be There”, which broke the Top 10. Their follow-up album, Standard Procedure, included popular tracks like “I’m Trying” and “Can’t Dub”, and Chalice toured Europe for three years, though they never achieved the same level of success abroad as they did in Jamaica. Their third album, Stand Up, featured the hit single “Dangerous Disturbances”, and subsequent releases such as Crossfire and Catch It saw success in Jamaica but limited international recognition. Through the late 1980s and early 1990s, Chalice expanded their reach, touring Mexico and releasing albums including Si Mi Ya and Tuff Enuff, though major lineup changes occurred in 1991 when drummer Phanso Wilson and lead singer Trevor Roper moved to the United States, replaced by Wayne “C Sharp” Clarke and Dean Stephens, respectively. The band disbanded in 1996, and original keyboarder Michael Wallace passed away in 1999. Chalice regrouped in 2006 and returned to live performances, headlining major events such as Rebel Salute, Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival, Calabash Festival, and Reggae Sumfest. Chalice released Let It Play in October 2010, their first studio album in over a decade. Since then, the band continued performing with original members Wayne Armond (vocals/guitar), Winston “Alla” Lloyd (keyboards), and Keith “Papa Keith” Francis (bass guitar), alongside Dean Stephens (lead vocals), Wayne “C-Sharp” Clarke (drums), Andrew “Preggs” Thompson (electronic percussion), and Jerome Tulloch (keyboards), with occasional drummer Desi Jones. The group faced losses with the deaths of Trevor Roper in 2013 and founder Robbie Peart in 2015, but…

Through the late 1980s and early 1990s, Chalice expanded their reach, touring Mexico and releasing albums including Si Mi Ya and Tuff Enuff, though major lineup changes occurred in 1991 when drummer Phanso Wilson and lead singer Trevor Roper moved to the United States, replaced by Wayne “C Sharp” Clarke and Dean Stephens, respectively. The band disbanded in 1996, and original keyboarder Michael Wallace passed away in 1999. Chalice regrouped in 2006 and returned to live performances, headlining major events such as Rebel Salute, Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival, Calabash Festival, and Reggae Sumfest.

Chalice released Let It Play in October 2010, their first studio album in over a decade. Since then, the band continued performing with original members Wayne Armond (vocals/guitar), Winston “Alla” Lloyd (keyboards), and Keith “Papa Keith” Francis (bass guitar), alongside Dean Stephens (lead vocals), Wayne “C-Sharp” Clarke (drums), Andrew “Preggs” Thompson (electronic percussion), and Jerome Tulloch (keyboards), with occasional drummer Desi Jones. The group faced losses with the deaths of Trevor Roper in 2013 and founder Robbie Peart in 2015, but Chalice remains active in the reggae scene.